The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-01-18
B0YC0TTING In INDIA.
SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT FROM THE
PRACTICE IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
Very Curious Examples Of the Practice.
whole Families Boycot;cd FOR Years
and Ncarf-Vhat Gold VIII Accom-
pIish-Outcast Women.

and Ncarf-N hat Gold VIII Accom-
pIish-Outcast Women.
Boycottinc, diTcring in some particulars
from tho way in which is is done in the
land whore tho English term originated,
has been practiccd Tor ages in India. IEcrc
is this great difference between Irish and
Hindoo boycotting: the former is based
mainly on political, se,n;-po,;ical, or fiscal
reasons; whereas the latter is practiccd on
purely social or religious grounds. Then
tho Irish is severer than the Hindoo method
in this sense, that no tradeSman viii sell
anything 10 the boycotted man, who is
more or less Ike prisoner in his own house;
whereas a boycottcd Hindoo can buy any
thing anywhere or go to any places he likes,
only people viii not go to his house or asso-
ciato with him or his family in any way.
On the other hand, the LiHlOo Is scyercr
than the I;iGh boycotting in that the latter
may be only temporary, and rises at the
caprice of the boycotters; whereas the for
NOR is often permanent, or can be done
away with only by going through certain
expiatory rites or costly ceremonies, which
come hard even on the richer classes. 4
man may be boycotted in Ireland for 10
l4A4l vi HIS ONlls bt.t III AA-.a4-t 'O N'e'-A-s3
follows upon a breach of Observance Of sOmo
time honored custom, Or By any pubic
oTense AGAINST traditional notions Of pro-
priety. Indian boycotting is allied 60 out
casting, bat is quite distinct from 1t and not
half 50 severe. A man can lose his caste
only by breaking one Of its well defined
rules, which are quite different from mere
customs for ObScrvances. An outcast
man is necessarily boycotted; but boy
cotted man keeps his caste al right as long
as he does not act against its rules. Again,
a man may be outcast, but not his fam
ly for that reason; yet his relations will
be boycotted if they associate with him.
SOME CURIOUS EXAMPLES.
Let me now cite some examples. Some
years ago a learned Pundit gave his daugh-
ter in marriage when she was few years
older than the prescribed marriageablo age
among the HindOOs; and the OifensC was
rendered doubly heinOus by the perpetrator
being a Brahmin of high order. lie was
strictly boycotted accordingly; and, l be
lieve notwithstanding his great reputation
as a scholar and a benevolent person, and in
spite Of his cndeavors to propitiate the Brah
minis in many ways, he is still avoided by
I
been bovcotted for receiving and associating
with one or its members who returned from
England and had lost his caste through eat
ing with Engiishmen. One gentleman has
been boycotted forever for getting his
widowed daughter married.
If nybody's son or daughter-in-law
associates with nOn-Hindoos publicly the
offending individual is outcasted and the
whole family is boycotted. If a son does
not mourn for his deceased father in the
prescribed manner he is boycotted In some
parts of India men are bOycotted for wear
ing trousers of European faslhon-or, IN
deed. any dress that was not worn by their
ancestors Of thousand years ago. a we'll
known historical example of HindOo boycott
ting is that Of the Jcypore royal family,
which was boycotted Tor hundreds OF years
by the other Rajpoot royal families for being
tic first uindoo family OF princely rank who
offered daughter in marriage to mogul
emperor In Raiputana whole tribes are
often boycotted il somebody does not proper
" observe the traditional customs or forms
a connection with a lower caste or with non
HindoOs
WHAT GOLD WILL DO.
But nowadays boycotting can be raised in
India 10y a judicious use of the almighty
gold. / may mention well known case.
A distinguished HindoO gentleman and
merchant Of a large Indian town was
boycotted for reforming propensities. His
old orthodox mother. who lived Ill the
country. on the occasion of a religious
festival directed the servants as usual
to distribute OFFERINGS of rice, fruits and
sweetmeats among the Brahmins of the
neighborhoOd. To a man they refused TO
accept the same on the ground that her son
was deserting his caste. The old lady was
deeply chagrined and began to be mortauy
afraid OF the destination of her soul after
death. On hearing this her son went down
to his country house and ordered the serv-
ants TO take the offerings again to the Brah-
minis, this time placing five rupees on each
of the plates The expedient answered won
derfully well The very Brahmins who
few hours before had turned away tho serv-
ants ANONYMOUSLY now came running to The
merchants house and literally scrambled for
the presents. This story seems TO justify the
saving of another rich Hlndoo that caste
was in his iron chest"
Bovcotting and outcasting are made
double oppressive TO Hindoo women, ana lor
the most tri1ing reasons. A married woman
not putting the sindoor IA red powder on
the parting of her hair is boycotted. In the
country if mother-in-law eats or lives III
the house Of her son-in-law before her
daughter has q child she will be at once boy
cotted. A young married lady was boy
cotted for not Observing some ceremony at
the birth of her child. A man can regain
his caste by performing the expiatory rites
but an outcast woman, especially II she
has broken away from the zenana or asso-
ciated with non Hindoos is never taken bach
to her caste. .-Hindoo i'll ST. James Gazette.
The Piutes' Crops.